Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-10
A PRETTY FIGHT.
THE ADDRgss oFTsE xAHosE LEADERS
ARD RfpDLEBERGsn.
snubbine the "Gamecoek "-Will he stand
Iti-What will the Malone
Committee Dot
from Our Regular Correspondent

from Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. y. c.. December g.
While Senator Riddleberger yesterday
was faithfully attending to his official
duties in the Republican Senate caucus
committee the enemy WAS sowing tares IN
his political vineyard.
Tue address Of the Malone lenders
signed by all the Republican Virginia con,
grcssmen. except Mr.. XOst and several
Republican members OF the State Legisia-
ture, aud presented by MIR. Elan to the
National Republican Committee, Is an
open defiance, or, what is still more
offensive, a contemptuous snub OF the
Republican senator from Virginia. That
an address which opens with the
claim that the siguers "spcak Tor
the Republican party Of Virginia
should lack toe signature OF its
highest representative at the capital,
when by all the rules Of custom and
courtesy his name should have been tue
first up0n TIE paper. Is an extraordinary
thing, and con only be accounted Tor asa
deliberate attempt to ignore him rs a
memberoi the party. He and his friends
accept it in this light and appear per-
iectly willing to take up the gage OF
battle thus rendered.
lrAsrER or TIE SITUATION.
n the Senator is inclined to improve
his opportunity it would seem that he is
master of the situation. He appears to
have nc winning cards in his hands.
| Will be play them ? The Republicans
would like TO carry Virginia next fall,
but riJhf uOiD 1t is ali-impOrtant
for them to control the Senate,
aud to DO that they must hold Riddle
berger. We know to what a shameful
bargain the Republican senators con-
scented when Malone held the balance OF
power. viii they hesitate to comply
with Jr. Ri5dieberger demands when
they al, ct only the policy of the party
/ in his own State, and can be compiled
uith without improperly? General
| Malone. through this address, has M
suited and defed not only Senator Rid
dlebcTeer, but SIR. lost, Of the Stsuu.on
district, who was not only snubocd by
omission, but abused by description.
/ Ex-Governor Cameron, General Wick
/ ham. Colonel Brady. ex-senator Lewis,
/ and all the late Republican leaders, who
having refused to follow Malone. are
characterized in this address as Mug
wumps," "Judascs,' AYE. and even
Lazaruses not only dead and buried, but
sinking
TIE SYSTEM.
The authors of the address declare
"tho system by which Malone has
controlled the party to be "the only one
practicable in our circumstances, and
- as to its poeoancL" they declare that
the people viii have nobody else SO long
rs our present faithful and Incompatible
party officials viii consent to serve us. %
| And they demand that their orguulza-
ton as now constituted shall be recog-
nized, endorsed, and upheld by the ma
/ tlonal committee. The committee are
| in an embarrassing position. Malone
| and his friends mt present undoubtedly
represent the organization OF the party
IN Virginia. If the committee will refuse
90 recognize and support them in the
summary treatment which they pro-
pose to mote out to the recalci.
| trauts they viii he IN a bad way. On
the other hand, granting that II com
pliance with Mahone's demands would
/ secure the state in the presidential cleo
| ton, q thing utterly improbable, 1t would
almost surely precip.tate at once q dead
lock in the Senate, for it is hardly to be
supposed that Senator Rlddleberger
would continue to net with the Republi-
can party under such treatment from its
| National Committee. Ills friends swear
that "F Came Cock C the VALLEY" Is
/ not that sort OF man. What the COM
mittce viii do remains to be seen.
| General Frank Blair, the member of the
committee from Virginia, evidently IS
sick Of the contention, and folding his
tent, stole silently away this morning. 1t
may be an excuse for the committed to de-
cline to act in his absence, and thus
/ give time for the peacemakcr's work ;
bnt those who know Malone don't cx-
pect to see any olive branches in that
/ direction, aud Mr.. Eiddleberger and his
| friends must stand their ground.
BLAINE, AGAIN.
One factor is 20 be considered that
may have an important bearing on the
matter. The selection OF Chicago yes
/ terday is generally interpreted to mean
/ that Mr. Blaine intends to be a candi-
/ date, and that impression IS strengthened
| by bis letter on the Presidents IN sage.
| General Malone is known to be Tor
| Sherman. Now, if Mr.. Blaine's friends
| want TO secure q Virginia delegation
at Chicago, what better opportunity
than to recognize the anti-Mahoue
/ Republicans Whatever AiT. Blaine
/ desires the committee viii probably do.
I | understand that Mr.. Riddleberger de-
MES any knowledge of the report that
notices for conference Of anti-Mahone
men had been sent ont. My informant,
/ however, tells ne that the gentleman
/ who told him said that he nod a notice
himself.
Mr.. BARBOUR.
The friends of Mr.. Barbour here,
which include not only all Virginia Dem
ocrats, but all Democrats from whatever
/ locality, were delighted to hear Of his
nomination by reclamation, and it was
conceded on all hands that he had wor-
thily won this high honor. At proper
time his friends here propose 10 take
action to signify their pleasure at his
elevation to the position he has so album